COMMENTARYOn consecutive days last week, economic indicators were released painting a mixed picture about manufacturing's economic strength.On Jan. 3, the Institute for Supply Management released its monthly manufacturing index. It had a noticeable drop, to 54.1% in December from 59.3% the month before. That meant manufacturing was still expanding, but at a slower rate. Read More

Manufacturing expansion slowed significantly in December as new orders, production and employment growth all cooled, the Institute for Supply Management said in a monthly report.The group's manufacturing index, known as the PMI, slipped to 54.1% last month. That was down from 59.3% in November. December was the lowest PMI of 2018."We had been bouncing across the top and Read More

Manufacturing will expand next year but growth may not be as robust as 2018, the Institute for Supply Management said in a semiannual forecast.“Going into 2019 is still strong,” Timothy Fiore, chair of ISM’s Manufacturing Business Survey, said on a conference call. “It’s a little bit less optimistic than we went into 2018.”The group forecast increased revenue, capital Read More

Manufacturing expansion strengthened in November on a strong gain in new orders, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM; Tempe, AZ) said in a monthly report.The group's manufacturing index, known as the PMI, advanced to 59.3% last month, up from 57.7% in October. The uptick snapped a two-month streak of slipping PMI numbers.Increased new orders recorded now will help Read More

Manufacturing expansion in October slowed to its lowest level in six months, the Institute for Supply Management said in a monthly report.The Tempe, AZ-based group's manufacturing index, known as the PMI, was 57.7% last month. That was down from 59.8% in September and the lowest since 57.3% in April."That’s a good PMI number, but not what we’ve seen in the past six Read More

Manufacturing cooled in September but still operated at a strong rate, the Institute for Supply Management said today in a monthly report.The Tempe, AZ-based group's manufacturing index, known as the PMI, registered at 59.8%, down from August's 61.3%. Growth in new orders slowed while production and employment registered small gains, ISM said."The manufacturing economy Read More